Stories from Wednesday, March 21, 2018

During their last meeting before the April 3 election, the Twin Rivers R-X Board of Education reflected once more over Proposition K.I.D.S. and offered community members an opportunity to ask questions about the potential project or concerns. "We are two weeks away from election day," Superintendent Jeremy Siebert said. "We will see where it lies and we will move on whichever direction we need to move on."...

Poplar Bluff City Council members voted 6-1 Monday to allow an outdoor paintball business to operate on North Main Street. Owner Jeff Hovis was granted a conditional use permit and rezoning from residential to commercial for the southern portion of the 8.6-acre property...

The Poplar Bluff R-1 Board of Education voted to allow Lake Road Elementary School to extend class offerings to fourth graders during Thursday's meeting. The decision is an attempt to increase enrollment at the facility, which according to Principal Erica Weadon, has been dropping consistently since 2013...

Months after setting the wheels in motion for Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens to speak at an annual law enforcement banquet, Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley found himself hospitalized and unable to attend the event. "I was very disappointed when I came down with the worst case of the flu ever about a week before his scheduled appearance" on Friday, said Whiteley, who indicated circumstances may change, but "real friends don't."...

A new city advisory board could help generate ideas for how to clean up areas of Poplar Bluff that have become embarrassing because of trash, dilapidated houses and overgrown lots, according to supporters of the effort. City council members are expected to vote April 2 on the creation of a residential housing advisory board, which some opponents say would be an unnecessary addition...

To the Editor, As the principal of Sacred Heart School, I would like to thank all those involved in Dancing with the PB Stars this year. It was a great success and a fun evening! The generosity and support of this community is very much appreciated. There were many involved with making this night happen and I want to let everyone to know that we are so very grateful for the outstanding support we have received...

Raymond Cooper, 81, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at his residence. Arrangements are pending with Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff, Mo.

By WALTER E. WILLIAMS One of the unavoidable tragedies of youth is the temptation to think that what is seen today has always been. Nowhere is this more noticeable than in our responses to the recent Parkland, Florida, massacre. Part of the responses to those murders are calls to raise the age to purchase a gun and to have more thorough background checks -- in a word, to make gun purchases more difficult. ...

We took time to observe the state's annual STEM Day, and then took action by approving legislation that would establish a statewide program designed to promote careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The legislation is modeled after successful programs in Tennessee and Arkansas that have helped promote the importance of the STEM fields to young people. I, too, filed similar legislation...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Joseph Patrick "Joe" Spades, 68-year-old resident of Doniphan, Mo., died Wednesday, March 14, 2018 in Jonesboro, Ark. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 24, 2018 in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. The services will follow at 11 a.m. with Mack Downey officiating...

Ernestine Johnson Roberts, 67, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at her residence. Mrs. Roberts, the seventh child of E.J. and Mary Ann McKeller Johnson, was born Sept. 4, 1950 in Scott County, Mo. She grew up in the Parma and Essex area and later moved to Poplar Bluff where she attended Poplar Bluff Senior High School, graduating in 1971. ...

By MARC A. THIESSEN WASHINGTON -- When Karen Gaffney's mother found out she would be born with Down syndrome, the doctor said Karen probably would not be able to tie her own shoes. Instead, as Karen explained in a moving and eloquent TEDx talk, she has become an accomplished open-water swimmer who has crossed the English Channel in a relay race and completed the swimming leg of the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon...

laha Fern Bunn, 103, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Monday, March 19, 2018 at The Manor. Miss Bunn, the daughter of the late George Harvey and Dolly (Santas) Bunn was born Aug. 21, 1914 in Juneau County, Wis. She was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church. ...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Warren Grace, 89, of St. Louis, Mo. died at home on Tuesday, March 13, 2018. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel...

Vivian Sue (Breece) Jameson died March 13, 2018 at Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Vivian was born Oct. 13, 1948 in Poplar Bluff, Mo., to Dennis Paul and Lois Alberta (Smyers) Breece. On May 16, 1970 she married George Jameson in Poplar Bluff. He survives. Also surviving is one son, Zephry Jameson of Poplar Bluff; one grandson, Xander of the home; one half sister, Veta Mae (Breece) Elliott of Oxly, Mo.; half brother, Lewis Breece of Ash Flat, Ark...

Half of the starting lineup returns for the Poplar Bluff tennis team as the Mules look to claim a third straight district title and compete for an inaugural conference title. While the top two seeded players graduated their replacements already have two years of varsity experience...

DYERSBURG, Tenn. -- The Raiders fought all the way back after a disastrous first inning, but couldn't keep the momentum going. After allowing six runs before getting its first out, Three Rivers tied the game before losing 11-8 against Dyersburg State on Tuesday...

Nathan Woolard and Justin Pierce are the only returning starters for a Poplar Bluff golf team that coach Billy Pyland called "very inexperienced." The majority of Poplar Bluff's starters move up from the junior varsity team but the JV Mules regularly face varsity competition and beat three conference opponents at a tournament last season...

The Poplar Bluff Police Department is scheduled to undergo a substantive on-site assessment as part of the program to retain its international accreditation status by verifying it meets professional standards. Administered by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA), the accreditation program requires agencies to comply with state-of-the-art standards in four basic areas: policy and procedures, administration, operations, and support services...

IMPERIAL, Mo. -- After giving up three goals in two games last season against Seckman, the Poplar Bluff soccer team held the Jaguars to just one Tuesday. Rachel Ray scored the lone goal as Seckman edged the Mules 1-0. Lauren Isbell provided the assist while Alyssa Kerperien recorded the shutout in Seckman's season opener...